17 Genius Hacks to Save Money on Groceries in 2025 

Hey besties! Let’s talk about some grocery money-saving hacks that will help you stretch your budget further and maybe even change how you shop. Some of these tips you’ve probably heard, and some might just surprise you. Let’s get into it!

1. Use cash only

If your weekly grocery budget is $80, take $80 in cash with you. Use a calculator as you shop so there are no surprises at checkout. Staying on budget feels good and keeps you accountable.

2. Separate meal and snack budgets

Your meals are a necessity. Snacks are a luxury. Keep those budgets separate so if money is tight one week, you can cut back on snacks without affecting your meals. It changes the way you shop.

3. Use a budget binder

A budget binder with labeled envelopes helps you plan ahead. Withdraw the cash, stuff your envelopes, and track your expenses. It even fits in your purse and holds cards too. Customize the categories to fit your life.

4. Avoid impulse spending with grocery pickup

Skip those tempting checkout items by using grocery pickup. Add only what you need to your cart and pick it up later. If something’s wrong with your order, stores like Walmart will fix it.

5. Try backwards meal planning

Don’t go to the store with a meal plan. Shop based on sales and deals, then build meals around what you find. This way, you’re always cooking with discounted ingredients.

6. Save for bulk shopping trips

Use an envelope to save for places like Costco or Sam’s Club. Drop in $10, $20, or $50 whenever you can. Once you’ve got about $250 saved, make the trip worth it. The produce and meats are usually of great quality.

7. Switch to ground turkey

Ground turkey costs way less than ground beef.

Add a little beef bouillon powder if you miss that beefy flavor. You can save around $4 a pound and most people can’t tell the difference, especially in tacos or spaghetti.

8. Do a breakfast for dinner night

Breakfast is super cheap. One big bag of pancake mix can last over a year. Throw in eggs, sausage, or fruit, and you’ve got a full meal for way less than dinner costs.

9. Look high and low on the shelves

The most expensive items are usually right at eye level. Look up or down for budget options you may not have noticed before. You can find great dupes at the bottom of the shelf.

10. Choose frozen over out-of-season produce

Frozen vegetables are picked in season and keep a consistent price. If you’re buying something that isn’t in season, frozen will almost always be cheaper.

11. Buy fresh only when in season

Stick with fresh produce only when it’s in season. Otherwise, go back to frozen. It’s all about timing.

12. Shop multiple stores

Check out a few different stores to get the best deals, but only if they’re close by. Don’t waste gas money chasing savings across town.

13. Ask for markdown schedules

Ask your store’s butcher when they typically mark down meat. Go early and score clearance deals to freeze at home.

 14. Try meatless Mondays

Skip meat one night a week. Protein is expensive, so try beans, pasta with ricotta, or any of the other delicious meatless meals out there.

15. Use meat fillers

Stretch your taco meat with a can of beans or some cooked rice. It bulks up the meal and keeps you from needing a second pound of meat. It’s delicious and money-saving.

16. Keep a stocked pantry

Keep basics on hand like flour, rice, pasta, sugar, and oats. These staples make it easier to cook without buying extra. You can make so many different meals from simple pantry ingredients.

17. Do the $5 stock-up challenge

Every week, spend just $5 on pantry or freezer items that are on sale. Over time, you’ll build a stash of affordable backup ingredients for when times are tight.

Those were my 17 hacks to help you save at the grocery store. Let me know in the comments which was your favorite tip. Or drop a tip of your own in the comments so we can learn from each other! Next up, check out these 6 lazy week night dinner ideas.